Dallas Woman Admits Role in March 2014 Heroin Overdose Death of Dallas Teenager

Dallas Woman Admits Role in March 2014 Heroin Overdose Death of Dallas Teenager

DALLAS—A 25-year-old Dallas woman is the latest defendant to appear in federal court and plead guilty to a felony drug offense stemming from her role in the March 2014 heroin overdose death of a Dallas teenage girl, Rian Hannah Lashley, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Kathryn Grace Dirks, a/k/a “Kat,” appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute heroin. Dirks of the third of four defendants charged in the case to plead guilty. Last month, Glen William Brunton, 28, pleaded guilty to the same offense, and in March 2015, Cierra Allyn Rounds, 27, did the same. Each faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine. Dirks is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay on October 19, 2015; Brunton is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2015; and Rounds is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2015.

The remaining defendant in the case, Jimison Erik Coleman, 36, is set for trial before Judge Lindsay on August 3, 2015. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, the use of which resulted in the death and serious bodily injury of Lashley; and one count of distribution of heroin, the use of which resulted in the death and serious bodily injury of Lashley.

According to documents filed in the case, Dirks admitted that in 2013 and part of 2014, she was involved in a romantic relationship with co-defendant Coleman. In addition to being her boyfriend, Coleman also acted as Dirks’ primary source of supply for heroin, methamphetamine, Xanax and other drugs. During the time they were together, Coleman routinely distributed drugs, including heroin, MDMA and prescription drugs to dancers and patrons at a Dallas strip bar where Dirks worked. Dirks admitted that, on occasion, she assisted Coleman by directing customers who were interested in purchasing drugs to him, and in return, Coleman provided Dirks with heroin and other drugs to support her drug addiction.

During the early morning hours of March 25, 2014, Dirks, Coleman and Lashley traveled from an apartment complex to an IHOP restaurant in Plano, Texas. After arriving at the restaurant, Dirks, Coleman and Lashley were joined by co-defendants Brunton and Rounds. While sitting in a booth, the group ate breakfast and discussed traveling to a music festival in Miami, Florida.

Later that morning, according to the factual resume, in a parking lot near the IHOP, Coleman delivered five baggies of “China White” heroin to Brunton, and Brunton subsequently distributed the heroin to Lashley in exchange for approximately $120.00. Prior to March 25, 2014, Lashley had never used heroin.

After acquiring the heroin, Dirks, Rounds and Lashley left the IHOP in Lashley’s vehicle and travelled to a residence in Dallas where Rounds lived. Coleman and Brunton left in a separate vehicle.

Once the group arrived at the residence, the three went inside, and once inside, Dirks and Rounds, at Lashley’s request, took possession of the heroin originally supplied by Coleman and Brunton and used a syringe to inject the heroin into the Lashley. Later that morning, Lashley began showing signs of distress and eventually stopped breathing. Dirks admitted she and Rounds tried to resuscitate Lashley, to try to reverse the effects of the heroin, by placing Lashley in a bathtub filled with water and ice. Lashley was eventually placed on a couch where she appeared to go to sleep.

Dirks admitted she took $3000.00 in cash belonging to Lashley and that she left the residence with Coleman shortly after Lashley was placed on the couch. Lashley died later that afternoon, and an autopsy concluded that she died as a result of the toxic effects of heroin.

A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

The Dallas Police Department, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Buena Park Police Department are investigating. Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phelesa Guy are prosecuting.